Wanting to make a Day of the Dead altar? Check out my first ofrenda and helpful links. If you live in Mexico City, Mercado Sonora is a great place to go for Dia de los Muertos supplies.

Since I can remember, Halloween has always been my fav holiday. In the past decade or so, Mexico (more cities than others) has adopted and incorporated Halloween into their calendars and picked up on the goulish, scary USAmerican traditions of pumpkins and trick-or-treating Unfortunately, as the years develop, so does Halloween’s influence on Mexico which has resulted in less emphasis on the folklore of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). So, in order to embrace the true Mexican lifestyle and traditions, I decided to create my first ofrenda and Day of the Dead altar.

Giant alebrijes in Mexico City have become a modern and cultural tradition bringing attention to this unique Mexican folk art. Vibrant colors, intricate designs, and imaginative animals line the street on Reforma every October.

Intricate Neon Alebrije

A big plus to living in a big city is that there is always something going on. Most of my favorite happenings in Mexico City occur on its main road, Paseo de la Reforma. This road can pretty much take you across the whole city and it is where the iconic Angel de la Indepencia is located. Never is there a dull moment or shortage of pedestrians on Reforma because it is always lined with interesting art and photos, exhibitions, and sculptures that usually revolve around a theme. I’ve been living in Mexico City for exactly a year now and I have to say, the most impressive by far has been the display of giant alebrijes.

Wondering what to do in Mexico City that isn’t in most tourist guides? Desierto de los Leones National Park is the most underrated place for picture perfect natural beauty, history, and great eats!

Ex-Convento del Desierto de los Leones

When people think of the parks and green areas of Mexico City, what usually comes to mind first is Chapultepec Park. While Chapultpec is on most tourist’s to-do list alongside other modern and ancient attractions, what usually is overlooked is Desierto de los Leones National Park. It is hands down my absolute favorite getaway located just outside the business district of Santa Fe, inside the limits of Mexico City (Cuajimalpa). A true sight of natural beauty and fresh air, it is a refreshing contrast to the bustling life of the millions that engulf the megalopolis every day. [Read more…]

Moving to Mexico City, or even visiting Mexico City, can be quite intimidating as one of the largest foreign lands in the world, but it shouldn’t be. There are more familiarities from home than you think, making you feel like you never left Kansas.

My new home in Mexico's Metropolis. Photo via www.imagenesaereademexico.com

One of the world’s largest cities, Mexico City, is not as intimidating and foreign as you may think. Recently, I’ve been coming across some articles with titles such as ”Misconceptions about Mexico City” and as I read through them, I won’t lie, I too once had some of the same ideas. Dirty, dangerous, poor and crowded is what often came to mind when I told my family I was moving to Mexico’s capital, Distrito Federal (D.F.). Before moving to D.F. I was a little apprehensive as to how I would assimilate because even though I visited many times, I still had my own misconceptions. For vacations, I always would wander the “touristy” areas; Coyoacan, Xochimilco, Basilica de Guadalupe, the Zócalo, etc. and I thought my living environment would have that same authentic Mexican vibe. As I am settling in though, I am realizing there are far more familiarities from home in the USA than I could have EVER imagined!

Wondering the best place to go in Mexico for Dia de los Muertos? A great option is Mixquic in Mexico City. It is an amazing place to witness the traditions and customs that take place on November 1st and 2nd.

Families decorate the graves of their passed love ones, celebrating their death and welcoming their spirit as they believe their soul will revisit the earth on November 2nd

Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican tradition that I find completely fascinating and beautiful. My first encounter with this holiday was in Oaxaca when I was trying to get away from Halloween in my college days 09. When I finally got to witness the Dia de los Muertos celebration, I was completely captivated by the colors of the flowers and how everyone united to honor their loved ones who had passed. Now, I count down the days until this beautiful holiday arrives and look forward to being able to experience it and appreciate all that it is about. [Read more…]

Typically during the Semana Santa, or Easter week, Mexican families flock to the beach from cities like Guadalajara, Querétaro, Aguascalientes, and Mexico City. Semana Santa is undoubtedly the busiest time for beach towns along Mexico’s coast and for someone living in Puerto Vallarta (like me), the best time to escape! So I took the long weekend to travel to Mexico City, a city I have visited many times before, but never quite fully discovered. [Read more…]